Patriots Journal: All eyes focused on the Ravens

Wednesday

Jan 16, 2013 at 5:58 PM

FOXBORO — It’s laser-focus time at Gillette Stadium.Not that this is anything new to the Patriots, but January football tends to bring with it more of a big-picture focus in the media — particularly as...

BRIAN MacPHERSON and PAUL KENYON

FOXBORO — It’s laser-focus time at Gillette Stadium.

Not that this is anything new to the Patriots, but January football tends to bring with it more of a big-picture focus in the media — particularly as reporters from outlets with more of a national focus descend on the teams left standing.

Only rarely does New England coach Bill Belichick have patience for such lines of questioning, however. Longtime Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has been well-schooled in the same philosophy. Both made clear that they’re not thinking at all about anything this week except the Baltimore Ravens, their opponent on Sunday in the AFC title game.

The first question asked of Belichick in his news conference on Wednesday was about how, in the aftermath of the firing of Andy Reid in Philadelphia, he now is the longest-tenured coach in the NFL. Belichick completely dismissed the question.

“I really haven’t thought much about it,” he said. “I’m trying to think about the Ravens. We’re trying to get ready to win the AFC Championship Game. I’m not too concerned about how long I’ve been here. I don’t really care about all of that, with all due respect.”

For Brady, the first question — coming this time from a local reporter — was about how the playoffs are where legacies are made.

“To tell you the truth, I don’t really think about any of that,” he said. “I’m trying to win a football game this week. We have a very short-term focus. We’re playing against a great football team. We know how challenging of a team they are schematically and personnel-wise. All our focus is on this week.”

Consistent threat

There is only one team in the NFL which not only has qualified for the playoffs in each of the last five seasons, but has won at least one game each time. And it is not the Patriots.

Belichick was the one who pointed to that fact Wednesday as preparations for the New England-Baltimore AFC Championship Game kicked into high gear. Belichick made due note of the Ravens run of success as just one reason he respects his team’s opponent Sunday.

“It’s certainly a privilege to participate in this game,” Belichick said. “The Ravens are a great football team. They’ve been in the playoffs five straight years, won playoff games every year. They’ve showed over time the type of football organization they have down there.”

“We’ve had some great games with them in recent years,” he said. “They’re very good in everything they do. … They’ve shown they can handle difficult situations. . . Whatever the challenges are they stand up to them.”

“It’s always a tough game with them,” Brady said.

Baltimore’s overall statistics, especially down the stretch, when the team lost four times, might not be sparkling. But Belichick said the Ravens have the one characteristic he most admires in a team.

“They just do what you’ve got to do to win,” he said.

Now he’ll play against Brady

James Ihedigbo has switched sides for the AFC Championship Game this year, which is fine with him.

The former UMass defensive back was with the Patriots last year and saw extensive duty on special teams and at safety. He signed with Baltimore just before the season began and has done the same for the Ravens.

He does not have any unusual feelings heading into the conference final.

“No, not strange at all. It’s exactly where it’s supposed to be. I’m here as a Raven,” he said. “I love being here, I’m proud to be here and I’m proud to go out with these guys and fight for the opportunity to go to the Super Bowl.”

He does not feel his experience last season helps him either personally or in preparing to face Brady.

“I don’t know if it helps at all. Teams change every year, but one thing we know is Tom Brady is a phenomenal quarterback,” he said. “He does a great job with that offense in terms of getting those guys the ball, and that’s really our focus on defense. We have our hands full.”

“A lot of coaches who are coaching here have gone against him a lot longer than I’ve been in the league — six years. So I don’t know how much intel I can give into that,” he said of providing inside information on Brady and the Patriots. “Everyone knows Tom Brady and the kind of quarterback he is and the things he can do with that offense.”

Jones brothers

The title game will have one Jones brother on each side.

Patriots rookie defensive lineman Chandler Jones, who was named to the league’s all-rookie squad by one national site this week, is expected to play even though he is apparently battling more issues with his injured ankle. He did not play in the second half in the victory over Houston.

His brother, Arthur, who is in his third year in the league and roomed with his brother for one year at Syracuse, is a back-up defensive lineman for Baltimore.

“It means a lot,” Arthur Jones said of going against his brother’s team. “I think after the game when I have time to unwind it’ll hit me a little harder. Right now, I am trying to figure out this team the best I can and get going out there and playing hard.”

Arthur Jones reported that family members will be at Gillette for the game.

“Yes, my brother Jon (the UFC light heavyweight champion) is coming down and I think a couple of cousins and a bunch of friends,” he said. The brothers spoke Tuesday for what might be the last time before the game.

“We’ve been going back and forth talking crap. Really, I have been just seeing how he’s doing,” Arthur Jones said. “I know he got rolled up bad last week, so I was trying to figure out if he was going to play or not and get the inside scoop. But he’s doing a good job not telling me anything. He’s not telling me anything, but I think he is going to be out there. He’s a hard worker. I know he’s getting treatment on it hard.”

“It is definitely a great moment in sports. It is unbelievable. We are definitely a blessed family,” he said.

Quoth the Raven

Anquan Boldin, the Ravens standout receiver, told reporters in Baltimore on Wednesday that the meeting this year with the Patriots will be different than the one last season.

“Because we’ll make it different,” he said. How will they do that, he was asked?

“We’ll win,” he responded.

Injury list

Cornerback Alfonzo Dennard missed practice Wednesday, the injury report said it was not football related. As expected, Rob Gronkowski also was out.

Peter Kilmartin said Wednesday that scam artists will try to take advantage of the demand for tickets to Sunday’s AFC title game.

He says fans shouldn’t let their enthusiasm for the game cloud their judgment about buying tickets.

Kilmartin says it’s against state law to overly inflate the price of tickets. He says prospective buyers should try to get tickets from the NFL or an approved broker and always pay by credit card. That may afford some protection if the tickets turn out to be fake. Buyers should ask the seller to e-mail a copy of tickets before paying.